Contemporary Governance
The National Australia Day Council (NADC) has administered the Australian of the Year awards program since 1979, when it inherited the responsibility from Victoria’s Australia Day Council. The NADC’s mission statement demonstrates how the awards program fits its wider purpose:
The National Australia Day Council works with and for the people and government of Australia to:
- Unite all Australians through celebration with a focus on Australia Day;
- Promote the meaning of Australia Day through activity, education, reflection, discussion and debate; and
- Promote good citizenship, values and achievement by recognising excellence and service to the communities and the nation.
The third of these aims is predominantly addressed through the Australian of the Year Awards, which offer a high profile moment for the celebration of outstanding achievement. The awards greatly assist the NADC in its central task, which is aptly summarised by its Chief Executive Warren Pearson: ‘On 26 January each year, the National Australia Day Council encourages Australians to celebrate what’s great about Australia and being Australian.’. The Australian of the Year Awards have certainly attracted controversy and criticism, but in doing so they have advanced a national conversation – they have encouraged citizens of this country to consider, who are the ‘Australians who make us proud’?
Read more about this topic: Australian Of The Year
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